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Aircraft Classification
Aircraft Classification
Photo. AI622. The fuselage of the Vickers "Wellington" Bomber is of geodetic construction. In the above
photograph can be seen the network of curved members that forms the rigid framework. Amidships can be
seen a worker applying the fabric covering.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
Photo. AI477. The North American "Mustang" has a typkally slender streamlined fuselage, in which it resembles
the "Spitfire" The nose of both "Mustang" and "Spitfire" accommodates the engine.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
Photo. AIOOO.
Nose of Fuselage
The noses of aircraft of different types are
very rarely identical, and many variations
may be incorporated in designs, according to
the duties for which the aircraft is intended.
The different designs of nose, which are often
an aid to recognition, may be classified thus:
(1) Nose taken up by engine (Fig. 4).
(2) Longer types of nose with powerdriven turrets and bomb-aimer's
position (B, Fig. 5).
(3) Filled-in nose, perhaps with fixed
armament (A, Fig. 5).
(4) Glazed nose (C, Fig. 5).
The "Spitfire" illustrated above, and the
"Mustang," shown on page 3, are in the first
category, since the noses are wholly taken
up by the engines. Both the aircraft shown
are in the single-engined class and we may
safely say that the majority of this category
have the power-unit fixed in the nose, as
have those illustrated. An exception, however, is the Bell "Airacobra" Fighter. In
this case the engine is mounted at the rear
and behind the pilot's cockpit so that in this
case the nose is not occupied by the engine.
The "Airacobra" is unique, however, and
"AEROPLANE" Photograph
Photo. A1329. The Douglas "Boston" is a good example of an aeroplane with a glazed transparent nose.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
(Fig. 8).
Fig. 1
Fig. 10.
Fig. II.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
"AEROPLANE" Photograph
Photo. A 1 28 1. The Grumman "Martlet," in use with the Fleet Air Arm, is a mid-wing monoplane.
(Dornier Do 17)
Monoplanes
Monoplanes may be divided into four
classes depending on the relative position of
the wings with reference to the fuselage.
(a) Low-wing monoplanes, such as the
Supermarine "Spitfire."
(b) Mid-wing monoplanes, such as the
Grumman "Martlet."
(c) High-wing monoplanes, such as the
Westland "Lysander."
(d) Gyroplanes, etc.
If the wings are low on the fuselagethat
is, the leading-edge is level with the underside of the fuselagethe aircraft is a lowwing monoplane (Fig. 8). Correspondingly,
when the leading-edge is level with the top
of the fuselage it is a high-wing monoplane
(Fig. 9) and the intermediate position gives
the mid-wing type (Fig. 10). The high-wing
group (c) may also include the parasol type
represented by the Henschel Hs 126 (Fig.
11) where the mam-plane is attached to the
fuselage by struts and is above and clear of it.
Sometimes a strict grouping is difficult, as
vertical lift.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
"AEROPLANE" Photographs
Photo.O30. Four typical views of the Westland "Lysander "a high-wing monoplane engaged in Army Co-operation
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
Fig. 21.
Biplanes
Although by no means obsolete, very few
biplanes are flying today. In this type two
rigid wings are superimposed. In a Triplane,
three rigid wings are superimposed. In a
Quadruplane, four.
The wings of biplanes are divided into
BAYS by interplane struts. There may be one
(Fig. 28), two (Fig. 29), or even three bays.
The distance between the upper and lower
planes of a biplane is called the GAP.
The position of the mainplanes is constant,
and so there is only the one classification.
There are special points of identification
common only to this class, however, as for
instance whether the wings are of equal or
unequal span. In the latter, the top wing is
of greater span than the lower wing. Other
points are the tail-units, shape of wings, and
type of undercarriage. As with monoplanes,
there are many alternative forms of engine.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
Photo. AI039. The Fairey "Albacore," a single bay Biplane, is used by the Fleet Air Arm for Torpedo attack.
Seaplanes
Fig. 30.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
10
Photo. AI697. The Boeing "Sea Ranger," a large twin-engined Flying-boat constructed in the U.S.A.
(3)
11
Photo. A740.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
"AEROPLANE" Photograph
When the fins and rudders are placed inboard of the tips of the tail-plane, as in the ArmstrongWhitworth "Whitley," they are said to be inset.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
Undercarriage
On the early types of aeroplanes, fixed
landing-gear was general. Even today some
aeroplanes are fitted with a static or nonretracting undercarriage to eliminate complications and for ease of maintenance. An
12
The undercarriages of most modern aircraft are retractable in order to reduce the
head resistance when the aeroplane is in
flight. In some types the lower parts of the
wheels remain exposed when in flight. Such
undercarriages are known as semi-retractable and are exemplified by the Avro
"Anson" and Fairey "Battle" (see page 13).
In nearly all fast single-engined Fighter
Photo. AI39I. Curtiss "Helldiver 77" two-seat Scout Bomber of the U.S. Navy. The inwards-retracting undercarriage is clearly seen in its retracted position, both wheels lying flush with the contour of the fuselage.
13
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
Photo. AI5I7.
A Douglas "Boston" with its tricycle-type undercarriage in the act of retracting at take-off.
Tail-Wheels
With all but the tricycle-type of undercarriageas used, for example, on the
Douglas "Boston"a tail-wheel or a tailskid is necessary to give a three-point
base.
AI6. The Fairey 'Battle" has a semi-retractable undercarriage. Note that wheels remain partially visible in flight.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
Photo. A1706.
14
Gun Turrets
On many aircraft, defensive armament is
mounted in power-driven turrets. These
may be carried in various positions, but
usually are in the nose and tail of multiengined aircraft (A and G Fig. 43). Cther
Fig. 43.
15
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
Photo. AI455.
(4)
ENGINES
Photo. AI296. The gun-turret of the Boulton Paul "Defiant" is a special recognition point, for its glazed cop can
be seen in either head-on or side view.
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
16
Photo. AI4I2. The North American "Harvard" has a 600 h.p. Pratt and Whitney "Wasp" radial air-cooled
engine.
Cooling Systems
The early aeroplane engines were aircooled but subsequently water-cooling was
introduced. When radiators were first used,
17
AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION
Photo. A1691. Hawker "Hurricane" showing radiator centrally placed beneath fuselage. "Aeroplane" Photograph
Mark Numbers
The variation of types of British aeroplanes is denoted by Mark numbers.
Although at first these may seem confusing,
after a time the different Marks come
naturally to mind. Mark I implies that the
aeroplane is the first type of that particular
aircraft to be produced; Mark II, the
second type, and so on. Mark numbers may
reach IV or V, or even higher. Small
differences in design, or the addition of
explained in our booklets "AIRCRAFT COMPARISONS," further details of which are given
on page 19.
The variation in American types is
denoted by certain designation numbers,
and in U.S. Naval aircraft the purpose of the
aeroplane is denoted by certain code letters
embodied in the designation.
To the
uninitiated these seem somewhat difficult to
understand, but the system is easy to follow
once it is understood "how it works." It is
fully explained, with relevant Tables, in our
special publication "AMERICAN TYPE
DESIGNATIONS," (see page 19).